In the last 25 years, Robert Altman has made
some of the best movies in America and some of the worst. Kansas
City finds Altman at the dip in the graph. This story of a
politician's wife who is kidnapped by a manicurist during the
height of the jazz era lacks all nuance, cohesion and sense. The
plot is forced and arbitrary, and the characters never spring
to life. Altman seems to be trying to make two movies at once:
An adventure crime flick and a moving character study, but ends
up not really doing either. Jennifer Jason Leigh's career is much
like Altman's: When she's in form, she's terrific, but when she's
not, she's horrible. As Blondie the manicurist, Leigh twists and
ticks through a self-conscious, mannered performance that's painful
to watch. The only good parts of this movie are when the jazz
musicians come in, but they can't save it.
--Stacey Richter
Full Length Reviews
 Kansas City 
Other Films by Robert Altman
 Cookie's Fortune 
 Ready to Wear 
The Gingerbread Man 
Film Vault Suggested Links
The Corruptor 
The Mod Squad
Gator
Related Merchandise
Search for related videos at Reel.com
Search for more by Robert Altman at Reel.com
Search for related books at Amazon.com
Search for related music at Amazon.com
Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how
others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the
Cast Vote button.
|
© 1995-99 DesertNet, LLC . Tucson Weekly . Powered by Dispatch